MICHAEL Beasley caught fire in the fourth quarter to lift the New York Knicks over the skidding Boston Celtics, 102-93, on Thursday (Friday, Manila time)
Beasley got hot in the final frame, scoring nine in a row in a telling 13-4 blitz that gave the Knicks a nine-point lead with a little less than five minutes to play, 88-79.
With the Celtics threatening a comeback, Beasley hit a tough fadeaway to notch a new season-high and as the chants of ‘MVP’ got louder in the Madison Square Garden. The Knicks, though, still had to fend off a late Celtic rally with some crucial stops and free throws.
Beasley finished with 32 points off the bench for the Knicks (17-14), while Enes Kanter had a double-double with 14 markers and 10 rebounds.
Kristaps Porzingis returned after missing the last two games, but had a miserable game, missing all 11 field goals and finishing with just one point.
Kyrie Irving carried the Celtics (26-9), who have lost back-to-back games and four of their last seven, with 32 points. Jayson Tatum added 17, while Al Horford chipped in 10.
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